Anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of the water extract from the fruit of Phyllanthus emblica Linn

Abstract

The fresh or dry fruit of Phyllanthus emblica Linn. is used in traditional medicines for the treatment of diarrhea, jaundice and inflammatory disorder. In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of the standardized water extract from the fruit of Phyllanthus emblica was prepared according to the Thai Herbal Pharmacopoeia (THP). P. emblica water extract was evaluated for its antiinflammatory activity in rats using ethyl phenylpropiolate (EPP)-induced and arachidonic acid (AA)-induced ear edema, carrageenan-induced paw edema as well as cotton pellet-induced granuloma models, and its analgesic activity in mice using formalin test. The extract at 1 mg/ear exhibited anti-inflammatory effect on EPP-induced ear edema, but not on AA-induced ear edema. Oral administration of P. emblica at the doses of 150, 300 and 600 mg/kg caused dose-dependent inhibition of carrageenan-induced rat paw edema. P. emblica at 600 mg/kg did reduce neither transudative and proliferative phases nor body weight gain and thymus weight in cotton pelletinduced granuloma formation. The extract at the doses of 150, 300 and 600 mg/kg elicited a significant analgesic activity in a dose-dependent manner on both the early and late phase of formalin test. The anti-inflammatory and analgesic mechanism of activity of the standardized water extract of P. emblica seems to be similar to NSAIDs rather than to steroidal drugs. Inhibitory effect on the synthesis and/or release of inflammatory or pain mediators may be the main mechanisms of action of P. emblica water extract. Industrial relevance: Medicinal plants have long been recognized as an important source of therapeutically effective treatment for inflammatory diseases. Many patients are turning to herbal medicine as their primary, complementary or alternative therapies because of the adverse effects of the pharmaceutical drugs. P. emblica fruit has been used in traditional management of some painful and inflammatory conditions and this has been supported by the present study. This work will be useful to the industry to produce standardized herbal formulation more effective in the treatment of pain and inflammation with less toxic and less costly than the current synthetic drugs. © 2010 Healthy Synergies Publications.